Family Services
Hard seasons come for every family. A job loss, a medical bill, a language barrier, a moment when the daily math just stops adding up. Catholic Social Services has been walking alongside families in central Ohio since 1945, and we have learned that what people need most is not a pamphlet. It is a neighbor who shows up.
Our family programs serve individuals and families across central and southeastern Ohio through emergency assistance, case management, ESL classes, wellness support, parenting programs, workforce development, and community outreach. Services are available to everyone, regardless of faith, immigration status, or income.
Family Programs
Case Management
A case manager from CSS will sit with you, understand your situation, and help you build a plan. Case management services are centered at our Our Lady of Guadalupe Center and include immigration consultation, legal referrals, resource navigation, and connection to community programs.
JOIN Program | Emergency Utility Assistance
Catholic Social Services’ Joint Organization for Inner City Needs (JOIN) Program provides emergency utility assistance to eligible individuals and families in Franklin, Licking, Muskingum, and Vinton Counties, Ohio. The program helps households experiencing a temporary financial crisis avoid utility disconnection or restore service that has already been disconnected.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for JOIN utility assistance, applicants must:
- Reside in Franklin, Licking, Muskingum, or Vinton County.
- Have a current utility disconnection notice or have already experienced a utility shutoff.
- Provide proof of utility disconnection or a disconnection notice.
- Have not received JOIN assistance within the past 18 months.
How to Apply
To request emergency utility assistance, call 614-241-2530.
Applications are accepted during the first and third weeks of each month, Monday through Wednesday, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Payee & Fiduciary Management
CSS serves as a Representative Payee and fiduciary partner for persons with disabilities and seniors across 34 Ohio counties and 11 West Virginia counties, managing Social Security benefits and other finances responsibly and in the best interest of each client. This service is housed under Disability Services.